Spider's Bite: Elemental Assassin, Book 1

They call me the Spider. I'm the most feared assassin in the South -- when I'm not busy at the Pork Pit cooking up the best barbecue in Ashland. As a Stone elemental, I can hear everything from the whispers of the gravel beneath my feet to the vibrations of the soaring Appalachian Mountains above me. My Ice magic also comes in handy for making the occasional knife. But I don't use my powers on the job unless I absolutely have to. Call it professional pride.

Skinwalker: Jane Yellowrock, Book 1

Jane Yellowrock is the last of her kind-a skinwalker of Cherokee descent who can turn into any creature she desires and hunts vampires for a living. But now she's been hired by Katherine Fontaneau, one of the oldest vampires in New Orleans and the madam of Katie's Ladies, to hunt a powerful rogue vampire who's killing other vamps.

Fury of a Phoenix: The Nix Series, Book 1

I knew the sins of my past would call to collect what was left of my soul. If I'd known the price I'd pay, I would've sacrificed more to stay hidden from the magic. In the middle of Wyoming - away from the abnormals of the world - I thought I was free and clear. I started a new life. Found a love I'd never known in a husband, and a son who was my everything. And in a blinding instant, that life was stolen from me.

Cold Burn of Magic

It's not as great as you'd think, living in a tourist town that's known as "the most magical place in America". Same boring high school, just twice as many monsters under the bridges and rival Families killing each other for power. I try to keep out of it. I've got my mom's bloodiron sword and my slightly illegal home in the basement of the municipal library. And a couple of Talents I try to keep quiet, including very light fingers and a way with a lock pick.

Touch of Frost: Mythos Academy, Book 1

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy - a school of myths, magic, and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest. But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things.

Some Girls Bite: Chicagoland Vampires, Book 1

They killed me. They healed me. They changed me. Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn't exactly glamorous, but it was mine. I was doing fine until Chicago's vampires announced their existence to the world---and then a rogue vampire attacked me. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker...and this one decided that the best way to save my life was to make me the walking undead.

Blood of the Earth: Soulwood, Book 1

When Nell Ingram met skinwalker Jane Yellowrock, she was almost alone in the world, exiled by both choice and fear from the cult she was raised in, defending herself with the magic she drew from her deep connection to the forest that surrounds her. Now, Jane has referred Nell to PsyLED, a Homeland Security agency policing paranormals, and agent Rick LaFleur has shown up at Nell's doorstep.

The first three books in this action-packed, wildly original fantasy series by New York Times bestselling author Jasmine Walt. This kick-ass urban fantasy series has been compared to books by Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, Karen Marie Moning, and more. You're sure to enjoy it if you like spunky heroines, kick-ass fight scenes, wild new worlds, and sizzling, slow-building romance.

Keystone: Crossbreed Series, Book 1

When the road forks, how do you know which path is the right one? Raven Black hunts evildoers for fun, but her vigilante justice isn't the only reason she's hiding from the law. Half vampire, half mage, she's spent years living as a rogue to stay alive. When a Russian shifter offers her a job in his covert organization hunting outlaws, dignity and a respectable career are finally within her grasp.

Clean Sweep

On the outside, Dina Demille is the epitome of normal. She runs a quaint Victorian Bed and Breakfast in a small Texas town, owns a Shih Tzu named Beast, and is a perfect neighbor, whose biggest problem should be what to serve her guests for breakfast.

Recurve: The Elemental Series, Book 1

"My name is Larkspur, and I am an Elemental." My people use the power of the earth to sustain life and defy our enemies. I should be at my father's side as a royal princess. But as a half-breed, bastard child, that isn't going to happen. I've been accused of attacking the queen, my wicked stepmother, and my life is suddenly on the line. I have only two options left to me: banishment, or training to become one of the King's Elite Guards, an Ender. Option one will kill me. Option two is meant to break me, but is the only way to survive.

Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs: Half-Moon Hollow, Book 1

Maybe it was the Shenanigans gift certificate that put her over the edge. When children's librarian and self-professed nice girl Jane Jameson is fired by her beastly boss and handed $25 in potato skins instead of a severance check, she goes on a bender that's sure to become Half Moon Hollow legend. On her way home, she's mistaken for a deer, shot, and left for dead.

Publisher's Summary

The eighth hotly anticipated book in the Elemental Assassin series by New York Times best-selling author Jennifer Estep.

It’s Gin Blanco's party - and you’ll cry if she wants you to. Against her better judgment, Gin is coerced into attending a high-society gala with the rest of Ashland's elite underworld. On display: the priceless art collection of her deceased nemesis, Mab Monroe, and an excess of crime-boss swagger.

While not comfortable in her fancy attire, Gin gets vastly more interested in the evening’s events when a group of thieves bursts in and tries to seize the valuable, dangerous gems. Facing a Die Hard-esque scenario in which she must free hostage partygoers while herself trapped in the museum, things get a little bit messy when the bloodshed begins. Let's just say that Gin should have chosen the red gown....

So i'm not giving anything away, but before the book started i have assumed that its going to be the same thing as usual... She finds someone who is hurting someone, she plans to kill that bad guy, she fales the first time, she heals, then she tries again and kills the bad guy... But noooo ... not in this one.. you have a different place, different plot than usual..

You don't get the usual, and you keep on thinking you know what will happen, but no there are few twists in this book.. some of these twists are predictable and some are not... There are few funny moments here and there, specially in the first few chapters.

Narrator is doing a good job as usual.

I don''t want to give anything away, but lets just say, i would rank this in the top from this series, specially with the change we got from the usual thing... its not completely different than the usual but its new and reminds me of few movies i watched before

For an accomplished Assassin there seem only to be memories and accounts of botched jobs barley pulled out of the fire by a combination of luck, circumstance and miracle. And the pattern continues.

There is a good amount of well established and well developed characters; a great little world full of variation and colour but it seems that this Authors train is just running back and forth on the same rail with little or no real variation and a lot of incidental repetition.

If you have read book 1 through 7 than you will know what I mean; if not do start at book one as the read is great and only starts being very predictable around book 4 or 5.

4.5 stars. Definitely the best in the series in my opinion. This book was 90% plot and action, low romance. While I love the romance, this story was well done. Riveting and just entertaining.

Finnegan Lane was invited to an Art Exhibit of the items owned by the infamous Mab Monroe and of course Finn invited Gin to be his date.First, he wanted to get Gin out the house since she has been moping about her separation with Owen and he was also curious about the items that the dead fire elemental had amassed.

We learned from the prior 2 book that everyone should be weary of any invitation by Ashland's underworld, so I was not surprised at all when a fun gala event turned into a "stick up". A group of Giants had decided that they were through being bodyguards and wanted to run Ashland's underworld now that Mab's death left a vaccum for leadership.

Obviously they made a grave miscalculation by holding the crowd hostage, the crowd including Gin Blanco's loved ones. Nobody messes with Gin's family and gets away with. Watch Gin Blanco get to the bottom of the robbery and also the mystery of who set up the heist and why.

I was just hooked from the beginning to the very end! What a ride. This book was written like an action movie and it was the return to the beginning of the series where love as a side action and Gin Blanco as the Spider reigned as the main plot. Yes, Gin and Owen did talk and lay some things on the table. I also see a future with these two as I love them as a couple. But most of this book was all Gin solving a mystery and while there was just a little of Finn, Owen, Jojo D, Eva, Philip, Rosaline, Xavier & even Bria were just supporting her.I can't wait for the next installment of what has become one of my favorite series.

Gin is a magnet for trouble. Even when Finn tries to convince her to stop wallowing and go to an event with him, drama finds her. Of course it’s not surprising that this is an event that will auction off all of Mab Monroe’s belongings. It’s bound to have shady characters, right? Luckily Gin is always prepared.

Deadly Sting started off differently than most of the Elemental Assassin books. Usually the books start with Gin in the Pork Pit, this book is 80% at least in the same place, the gala event. The gala starts off like any normal ritzy event, cocktails and mingling. Gin and her gut feelings, she kind of knows something is “off”. She wasn’t wrong. In a very unexpected turn of events Gin is left alone to figure out how she’s going to rescue her loved ones without the help of anyone.

My favorite part of this book was definitely having Gin and Owen working as a team together, after she rescues him of course. I think after their recent turmoil this was definitely needed for me. These two aren’t a couple again or back to normal, but it was nice to see them in action and remember how great they are together.

Damn it Owen! I seriously hope you redeem yourself in Kiss of Venom, the new novella in HIS point of view. He still isn’t the same but I have HOPE! :-) Gin is damn near a one woman show and she prevailed again this time. Not without broken bones, bruises, etc but she got it done. I look forward to hear what else karma has in store for her.

As always, Jennifer Estep delivers an action-packed tale of violence and death. You'd think with that sort of material the story would be gruesome and the characters unlikeable, but not so! Gin is sexy, confident and capable. You just have to cheer for her and her friends. I really enjoy this series and can't wait for the next one! Lauren Fortgang adds SO much to the story with her smoky southern voice. A wholly enjoyable experience!

This one was a nice surprise. For once, it didn't start out with Gin gunning for someone. The story was good. It tied up some loose ends. It opened the door for a new big bad. Overall, pretty good. The beginning was a little weird, Fortgang sounded very breathy, almost like she was trying to be sexy (?) at a point in the book where it wasn't needed and it creeped me out a little. She took the normal Gin drawl and twisted it. It went away fairly quickly and all was good after that. It was a nice addition to the series and I can't wait for August and the next one!

What made the experience of listening to Deadly Sting the most enjoyable?

The series has kind of fallen into a somewhat predictable pattern. However, this book kinds of changes things up. Rather than discovering a big, bad guy and slowly plotting to take them down, this time Gin and her gang are caught in the middle of an art heist. This set up changes how the story unfolds and Gin's tactics had to change. It was a good change of pace.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I have long been a fan of Finn. He is so charming and his antics make him seem like he doesn't take things seriously, be underneath his is about as tough as Gin.

Have you listened to any of Lauren Fortgang’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have only listened to her narration of the Elemental Assassin books. I think her narration suits the series very well.